License-plate holder



Jan. 10, 1928.

M.v E. FRAslER LICENSE PLATE HOLDER 2 Sheets- Sheet l Filed Sept.

Jan. 10, 1928.'

M. E. FRASIEB LICENSE rm@ HOLDER Filed septfv. 1926 fill Ulll'lEll STATES PATENT OFFICE.

application. niet September t', ittllltl. llerlal, Na .ll .t)t8.

This invention relates to license plate holders, and particularly to license plate holders oit that character wherein there is combined means tor display or illumination ot' the license plate and also a stop light associated ivitli the control ot the vehicle with which the device is usedu The priniary object ol the invention is to provide license plate holder o't such charn acter that the various elements torining the combination set torth are so constructed, assembled and operated as to provide a device highly satisfactory tor the various purposes, and which is ol: such construction as to inininiise the opportunity tor breakage or derangement fr further object is to provide a license plate holder ot such character that the plate itselt is at all tiines maintained lree troni dirt or tralllc dust or dainpness, whereby the saine is at all tiines clearly visible and readable.

l still further object is to provide illunrination means in connection with a license plate ot such character that the plate itselt contributes to the signaling ineans usually employed in indieatinp,u that the vehicle will either stop or change its course.

A still `lurther object vis to provide a license plate holder ot eiitreinely simple con struction, which is composed ol but teu simple and readily assembled parts, which has its parts so constructed and arranged as to protect 'the saine against the arrangey nient or injury troni the elements, which is readily applicable to all types olf motor vehicles, which is capable oil accoinniodatinp license plates varyinp; in size, which requires no attention after once being properly applied and adjusted, and which .may be produced and marketed at small cost.

lllith these objects in view, together with others which 'will appear as the descrilition proceeds the invention consists in the novel constru@tion7 combination and arrangement ot parts, all as will be described niore :tally hereinafter, illustrated in the drawin and particularly pointed out 'in the claims.

ln the drawinos: l

llipg. l is a trent elevation oit a license platevholder constructed in accordance with the in ventioin llipg. Q is a top plan view oit the improved holden ltiio' is a transverse sectional view talren substantially upon line 3-3 ol Fig. l,

l siniilar vieivtalren upon line it ot L llia. 5 is rear elevation et the upper part ot the license plate holder,

ll G is a detail perspective view ot a modiied lorin oit cover plate tor the license plate holder,

Fie". l' is a fragmentary transverse sectional vieu7 showing means for the accommodation et license plates smaller than standard sise, and

8 is a vieiv similar to Fig: 3 and showing a further inodilicationu lle'li'erringl now incre particularly to the drawing", il represents generally the traine tor the accommodation et license plates and this traine is, as usual, of rectangular torni, and ot a sise slightly larger than license plates of standard dimension. This traine comprises longitudinal or horizontal bars 'l0 and end posts ll, permanently connected to each other in any approved nianner so as to provide a rigid structure. The end post ll and the bottoni bar l of the trarne are oit channel 'foi'.ination, as shovvn particularly in lfipgs. 3 and ll, `ivliile the upper part ot the upper horizontal bar lll is cut away tlnouoghout its length to provide an openin through which the license plate inay be in reduced to t1 ne traine.

The license plate is represented generally at l2, and is arranged Within the traine behind a glass or other transparent sheet or panel 13 oit a size substantially' similar to the license plate. lll/leans are provided Within the traine for iirinly Vforcing the glass and license plate outwardly toward the forward portion ot the traina and rinly holding;- these elements against vibration or rattling, and to preclude the entrance ot water or dust to the interior ot the traine. This means, in the present instance, comprises springs ll arranged Within the end posts .l1 so as to engi/"age against the rear tace oi? the license plate l2. rllhese springs are secured to the traine preferably at their upper ends by a stud l which is rigidly atlixed to the end o'l the spring; and also to the adjacent part ot the traine. The rear end of each stud protrudes beyond the traine and is threaded as shownn The leal springs lll thus assembled engage the end portions ot'. the

license plate and yieldably force the same toward:` the front of the holder, thus maintaining the same at all times rigid and forcing the glass 13 against the channel portionsv the same out of the frame throughA the open# ingat the top thereof. l

The'top portion' of the frame isprovided with a closure member 'or'caplL Thiscap conforms in general outline' to the horizontal bar and end posts of the frame, beingchanneled as shown to engage over the upper end of the frame. TheV rearportion of this capA is provided with an apron'l?, having openings near theends thereof to' receive the studs 15 protruding rearwardly from the frame. In assembling thecap, after the `studs have been engaged in the' openings, a wing nut 1'8 and suitable washers 19 applied to the stud and tightened" will maintain the cap Lrigidly Asecured over the top of the frame. y

In Fig. 8 there'is shown a slight modification of this construction, wherein instead of a rigid stud, a bolt 20 is employed'in securingV thev partsiproperly together. This bolt passes through an opening in the upper end offspring 14, through the frame as well as through` an openingj'orslot inthe apron 17 f thecap.'V Application of a Wingnut tothe threaded rear endof the bolt will tightly hold the several parts together.'

In Fig. 6 there is illustrated a slightmodiiication of the cap, wherein the apron 17 near `its endsis provided with slots 21 open at ltheir lower ends for more ready engagement with the studs or bolts carried by the frame.

Overlying the frame, and disposedV slightly forward thereof, is an illuminating device includingr a casing or housing 22. This housing is elongated as shown but terminates at itsends: 'inwardly from the extremities of the frame. c' This housing is rounded at its upper part so as to shed water and dirt, but is open throughout its lower portion as shown; Arranged within this housing, and preferably near the outer ends thereof, are incandescent lamps 23 and 24. The lamp 23,'v serving as a tail light, is ignited byl a wireor'other conductor 25 passingl down through an endpost 11 and out near the lower portion thereo'f'to be connected with a suitable source of electrical energy. rThe hosin for casing is provided centrally 'A thereo with a partition'26'which divides the sai-'dzhousing into separate Alight compartments. vThe lamp 24 'intheopposite end ofthe lhousingservesas a stop light, and its wire or conductor 27 passesV from the lower portionY of the adjacent end post 11 to be connected with the brake apparatus of the vehicle. It' will be noted, particularlyv with reference to Fig. 1, that the lamps 2?, and 24; are inclined downwardly, so that the rays of light project therefrom and fall directly upon the underlying license plate. Each of the compartments in the lamp housing is provided with an aperture 2S covered by a transparency of suitable color representedV at 2i). T ese transparencies are held withinthe housing by the clips or guide members 30 and are Aintroduced thereto through openings 31 in the ends of the housing. c

In instances where it is required to aceonn modate a license plate of a substantially smaller than the frame, hoolr members 132 are employed.. These members are chan-- neled at their lower portions as shown, and at their upper Vends have hooks 33 to engage over the rear channel portion of the frame. The license plate of smaller size rests its lower edges in the lower hook portion in of these members, and the plate is thus held in proper display position.

The frame thus constructed' may be secured either to the front or rear of a motor vehicle, by means of a supporting bar l0 passing across the rear of the frame, as shown. In instances where the frame is employed in the front of a vehicle, the transparent panes 29 in the lamp easing may be replaced by opaque panes, and, if desired, both lamps in the housing may be associated with the tail light illuminating means.

From the foregoing it is apparent: that I have combined in a unitary structure means for display of a license plate, a rear or ruiming light, and a stop or signal light. Under ordinary conditions, the lamp 23 will properly illuminate the license plate, and this lamp is so disposed that its rays l'all upon the plate throughmit theI entire displaysurface thereof. The other lamp 2l is so located and arranged that when ignited, its rays illuminate the plate and also project through the stop light aperture. A double illuminating and warning ell'eet is thus produced, as the sudden brightening of the license plate and illumination ofthe stop light, due to ignition of the lamp let. will thus attract attention.

'Ihespring elements 111 in the 'frame posts will be of suliieient strength to firmly I'oree the overlying pane 13 into tight engagement, with the channel members ol the frame, whereby a dust and unter-tight connection is made. It is preferred, however, that openings 35 be provided in the lower portion of the channel frame to permit of the escape of grit and moisture should any collect within ythe frame. f1

By thus keeping the plate itself free of moisture and dirt., 'proper display of the same is at all times assured, and should the glass lol) llt)

become coated with moisture or traffic duet, il; may be easily removed therefrom by the usual Well-known methods.

Vlliile the foregoing is a description of the .invention in its preferred form, it is apparent that mrizi'ione in the dereile` of conetruclion and eseeniblege ol parte may lie liloerzlllj,7 resorted to Without departing `from the involition as dened in the claims.

Having thus described my invention,A l Gleim:

l. In n` holder for license pleines, e frame comprising hollow poste, e. frame spring in eecll post, ai Stud securing;1 eecli eiiiring; et one end to said freine and protruding beyond lie latterE e.. closure for seid frame, said closure having openings to receive seid etude, end nuts for engagement n'ftli eeid etude 2. In ai liolder for lioenee platee, e rec tang-oler frame edaped to receive a plate, etude projecting; from one Side of said frame` liet springe secured Within said frame and et one end to ead etude, e cap member for Said frame, engegeable with said etude and nuts for engagement with said etude.

3. In e holder :l'or license plates, a hollow lrznne open at one side and adapted to receixf'e e plateu studs project-ing from one eide ol said frame, n cap member to close the open eide of said freine, an apron formed on seid cap member and seid apron having openings to receive said etude.

4. In e. holder for licenee plates, e frame open nl: its upper ond, e lamp casing carried by eziid frame and projecting forwardly from the letter, etude projecting from the rear' of seid frame, a oep member to close the open end of seid frame, e portion on said member to engage with said casing, en apron on said member to engage with said etude, and nnte for eziid etude.

In testimony whereof I afx my signature.

MARION E. FRASIER. 

